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A 152

Enacts the New York religious land use and religious exercise act

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Simcha Eichenstein

The bill aims to protect religious land use and exercise by limiting government actions that burden religious groups in zoning and land-use decisions.

REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
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Bill Summary · A 152

Summary: A 152 – Enacts the New York Religious Land Use and Religious Exercise Act

Overview

A 152 is a bill introduced in the New York State Assembly with the aim of enacting a state-level religious land use and religious exercise act. The bill’s title suggests protections for religious exercise and for religious groups in the context of land use decisions. The bill is currently in the early stage of consideration.

Purpose and Intent

  • The primary stated purpose, as indicated by the title, is to provide legal protections related to religious land use and religious exercise within New York.
  • The precise definitions, standards, and remedies that would govern government action affecting religious land use or religious exercise would be detailed in the bill’s text. The information available here does not include those provisions.

Key Provisions (TBD)

At this time, the specific text of A 152 is not provided in the material available. When the bill text is available, readers should look for:
- Definitions of core terms (e.g., “religious exercise,” “burden,” “land use”).
- The standard of review applicable to government actions affecting religious land use (e.g., heightened scrutiny or a compelling interest framework, if modeled after comparable acts).
- Protections for religious organizations in zoning, land-use permits, site selection, and related processes.
- Exemptions or carve-outs for government actions, and any permissible limitations on religious land uses.
- Enforcement mechanisms, remedies, and penalties for non-compliance.
- Effective date and any transitional provisions.

Affected Parties and Potential Impacts

  • Religious organizations and congregations: potential enhancements to protections against undue burdens when pursuing land use opportunities (e.g., zoning variances, site approvals, construction).
  • Local and state governments: potential changes to zoning and permitting processes; possible new procedural or substantive requirements to justify restrictions on religious land use.
  • Developers and property owners: indirect impacts through altered consideration of religious land use requests and related compliance costs.

Procedural History and Timeline

  • Introduced: January 8, 2025.
  • Status: Referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations.
  • Legislative actions recorded: Two identical entries on 2025-01-08 (both indicating referral to Governmental Operations).
  • Primary sponsor: Simcha Eichenstein.
  • Related bills (prior-session): A 9412 and A 183.

Related Bills

  • A 9412 (prior-session)
  • A 183 (prior-session)

Next Steps for Readers

  • Obtain and review the full bill text to identify exact definitions, standards, and remedies.
  • Monitor committee actions and any amendments that refine the protections or obligations.
  • Assess potential impacts on local zoning processes, housing, and land-use decision-making as the bill moves through the legislature.

If you’d like, I can update this summary once the bill text is published or once there are committee amendments to highlight the specific provisions and their practical effects.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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